There’s nothing more exciting to a teenager than the thought of acquiring their driver’s license and experiencing their first taste of road freedom. However, in order for these spunky future drivers to prepare for the road, the state of Texas requires they abide by the rules of the Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program. Teens between the age of 15 and 17 are required to pass all “levels”of the GDL program. Here is the quick overview of the two stages, ages, and other requirements:
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| Learner’s License | Provisional License | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age | Minimum Duration | Supervised Driving Hours | Minimum Age | Nighttime Driving Restrictions | Passenger Restrictions |
| 15 yo | 6 mo | 30 day/ 10 night | 16 yr | 12am – 5am | No more than 1 under 21 |
Phase 1 – Learn & Practice
The first step in the Texas Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program involves enrolling into a driver’s educational class. This can usually be completed as a high school course and started at the age of 14. Once an individual turns 15, they may apply for a learner license or a minor restricted driver license (MRDL) for teens and their families who are experiencing hardships.
Learner Licenses
The following applies to learner licenses:
- The teen must be at least 15 years old and must have completed driver’s education.
- Requires the teen log 30 hours of daytime driving and 10 hours of nighttime driving before applying for a provisional license.
- Teen must have a learner’s license for at least 6 months before applying for a provisional license
- Requires an adult of at least 21 years of age to be in the front passenger seat of the vehicle at all times while the minor is driving.
To apply for a learner license, the following must be taken to a local driver’s license office:
- Documents verifying identity, citizenship, and residency in the state
- A completed application for TX driver’s license
- A parent or a legal guardian
- A finished Verification of Enrollment and Attendance form (VOE), a high school diploma, or a GED
- An original form that’s signed and proves that the required 32 classroom hours have been completed in a driver training school, public school, or through a Parent-Taught Driver Education program.
Minor Restricted Driver Licenses (MRDL)
A minor restricted driver license (MRDL) is granted to individuals who have a specific need to drive. The state considers the following as hardships that would qualify a teen for an MRDL:
- Failure or refusal to issue a license will result in an unusual economic hardship for the teen’s family.
- The license is necessary because of the illness of a member of the teen’s family and the need to commute in relation to the medical hardships.
- The license is necessary because the teen is enrolled in a vocational education program and requires a driver’s license to participate in it.
The MRDL expires on the teen’s next birthday and is available to teens that are at least 15 years old, are able to prove the existence of a qualifying hardship, have completed the required driver’s education, and can provide all the forms and information needed for a regular learner’s license with the exception of filling out an MRDL application instead of a VOE.
Phase 2 – Practice & Test
Provisional License
When the driver turns 16 years old, they will be able to apply for the provisional license if they are in fact eligible. This license will expire when the driver turns 18. In order to qualify, teens must:
- Have maintained a learner license or a MRDL for at least 6 months and logged a total of 40 hours of driving (30 in the day and 10 at night).
- Have successfully completed the required 44 hours of behind-the-wheel training of driver education in addition to the classroom training received to obtain the learners license or MRDL
- Must have completed the Impact Texas Teen Drivers course
- Taken and successfully passed a driver’s test administered directly by the state or through an authorize school.
It is essential that the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) certificate of completion document is provided in addition to the same things needed to apply for a learner license or MRDL listed in the sections above. The provisional license expires when the driver turns 18. From there, the driver can apply for a standard Texas driver’s license.
GDL Saving Lives
Since its implementation, the Graduated Driver License program has helped to reduce crashes amongst teens nationwide. GDL programs are not implemented on a national level but rather on a state level. Each state chooses its own age, time, and educational requirements. As such, there is data to support that states who implement strict GDL requirements see a higher reduction in teen crashes. According to the IIHS, if the state of Texas were to implement the strongest restrictions on 5 components of GDL requirements, they could see a reduction in teen crashes of up to 44%! That means:
- Moving the learners license phase to a minimum age of 16 instead of 15
- Increasing behind-the-wheel practice hours from 44 to 70
- Set earlier nigh time driving restrictions: 8pm instead of midnight
- Moving the provisional license phase to a minimum age of 17 instead of 16
Come on, TxDPS, tighten up on your GDL requirements! Sure you may get a few thousand tweets from hormone-deranged teens with nothing better to do than speed type on their smartphone, but at least less teens will go on their last drive.
216 comments
Can I take my writing test before the 6 months are up?
eTags doesn’t operate in Texas, check with the TX DMV
My child has a hardship license she received 6mouth ago (she was 15 1/2) and it will expire on April 9. will she just renew as normal or will she need to take the written and driving test ago?
eTags handles titles and registration, we don’t handle driver’s license. Perhaps check with the DMV
I just received my adults driving license and have not taken the driving test yet. My license do not say permit. Does this sound correct for Texas or should I have received something that says permit.
etags doesn’t operate in Texas but this TX DMV website should help with details.
I took my written exam two month ago in Florida, but due to the covid-19 I was not able to obtain a learner permit. I am currently living in Texas and want to obtain a learner permit, Do I have to retake the written test?
You’d have to contact the texas DMV to get details as etags doesn’t handle registration
Hi, I’m 19 now and my learners permit expired a yearish ago. I want to renew it so that I can go and take my driving test from a third party. I was wondering if there is a way to renew a learner permit for someone above the age of 18.
eTags doesn’t operate in Texas nor do we handle driver’s licenses. We offer online registration and titles. Try your local DMV in Texas, here’s their website https://www.dps.texas.gov/driverlicense/
I am doing the parent taught drivers ed. For my driving logs, can I enter one hour on each log on the same day? It would be two hours of driving, but I would enter in one hour for each form. So for example: on the 30 hour log- date; 2/10, time; 4pm. on the 14 hour log- date; 2/10, time; 6pm. Am I allowed to do this?
Hey there, etags handles registration and titles but we don’t operate in Texas or handle DL.It’s best to contact your local DMV.
My provisional license expired on my bday and I still haven’t renewed it it’s been 9 months can I still retake it or do I have to retake my drivers license test
Hey there, etags doesn’t handle driver’s licenses. We offer registration and titling services. But you can always check with your local DMV. This article may help https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/ScheduleTest.aspx
Hi, I turn 18 in October and I wanted to take my DPS road test in August, afterwards do I have to wait till before or after my 18 birthday to go to get my dps license?
hey there, etags doesn’t operate in TX, but this web page should help with your question
https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/teenDriver.htm
Hi I’m 18 and my provisional license expired on my bday can I still renew it to get my license or do I have to retake my test?
Hey there, etags doesn’t handle driver’s licenses. We offer registration and titling services. But you can always check with your local DMV. This article may help https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/ScheduleTest.aspx
My son is 15 and has almost completed the hours to get his learners permit. Due to my job constraints, I am unable to take him to the DMV during operating hours. A friend of mine has offered to take him, but I see that he needs parental consent. Do I have to be present for that or is there a form I can fill out for the consent? If there is a form, can you please tell me how I can get one?
eTags handles registrations and title transfers, we don’t handle driver’s license. Try researching online the topic and make sure you use your location as part oft he search since different states have different laws
My daughter takes her driving test Monday 12/02. My husband I sign closing papers on a new house 12/05. What address does my daughter need to put on the application?
You can put the new address on the driver’s license and registration.
Hello! I was doing a parent taught drivers ed course, however before I could finish I turned 18. Do I need to start taking an adult drivers ed course?
We don’t deal with driver’s licenses, but here’s a website that may be able to answer your question
https://www.idrivesafely.com/drivers-ed/texas/drivers-license-check-list/
Hi I’m 15 almost 16. I’ve had my permit for 9 months and have completed all my hours of practice. Am I able to take my drivers test at 15 a few months before my birthday or do I have to be 16?
Please contact your local DMV to make sure of the requirements in your state.
My provisional license expired a few days ago when I turned 18. I read on the Texas DPS website that people under 18 need a VOE to renew it. However, since I’m now 18 and renewing my provisional license to a regular drivers license, would I still need a VOE?
Sorry, but we don’t deal with driver’s licenses.
Hi! I’m turning 18 in a couple days and the DPS is closed in my birthday. Is it possible to get my license renewed the day before I turn 18? Or will I have to wait until the Labor Day weekend is over?
Hello Sarah. You can renew your TX driver’s license up to a year before expiration and up to two years after it expires.
Hi im 17, and im about to get my permit in approx 1 week. But the problem is i turn 18 after that in 2 months. I understand that there is a 6 month permit holding period. If i turn 18 while im supposed to hold it for 6 months , am i allowed to take the provisional test right after i turn 18 or wait the 6 months
Hello Ryan. There are also other requirements you will need to fulfill to get a license if you are under 21 years old. Refer to your local DPS agency for further information about getting a driver’s license in TX.
I turned 18 recently and my provisional drivers license expired recently. Do I have to take a written part of the test to get a new drivers license?
Hello Christian. From the information you have provided it appears that you could still renew your license but you will need to confirm it with your local DPS agency.
Hi, I got my permit just over a year ago through a driving school in Houston. There were 7hr of driving and 7hrs of observation that I had to complete with the school but because of academic overload and inconvenient drive times at the driving school I only completed some of them. By the time I was able to schedule for drive times with the school my course had expired and they required for me to take the $400 course all over again. I decided not to because it is a waste of money, since I’ve gotten my permit I’ve driven over 32hrs with my parents and documented them on the sheet/log that the school had given me. Right now I’m in a state of confusion I’m not formally enrolled in an online parent taught driver’s ed neither at a driving school. Can I take my driving test and get my license without needing to pay for either of these classes? Because an online driver’s ed is pointless since I already have a permit.
Hello Noor. In TX, all minors are required to complete the Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program before getting a license. You will need to contact your local DPS agency for further information about this process.
I am seventeen years old and I moved from California to Texas. I have a California drivers license, but it’s been over 90 days and I haven’t been behind the wheel in Texas at all. I’m supposed to take the driving test if I want a Texas drivers license, but my question is am I allowed to drive with a parent for a while before I take it even though I still have a California drivers license?
Hello Grace. A new residents with a valid out-of-state drivers license have 90 days to transfer it to TX. You will need to contact your local DPS agency for furtehr instructions since you are beyond the deadline.
Hello,
I have my provisional driving test today and my legal guardian/parent cannot make it to the appointment. Could I use a written consent from them or some other document? I am going with my sister who is 19.
Hello Nolia. The driving test require candidates to show up with a legal guardian/parent for approval. You will need to contact your local DPS agency for further instructions about your case.
I took an in class teen driving course, passed the knowledge test, and got my learners permit when I was 16 years old and have been driving with it since then, but I never fully completed the course so I wasn’t able to take the DPS drive test. I recently turned 18 in July and my learners permit expired. I just started an adult online driving course, so will I need to renew my learners permit before I can go take the drive test? And if so, how do I renew a leaners permit as an adult?
Hello Cas. From the information you have provided you may be able to renew your learners permit but you’ll still need to complete a driving education course prior the test. You should contact your local DPS agency for more information about adult (18+) licenses and its requirements. Good luck!
My daughter turns 18 on a Saturday. Can we renew on the Friday before or do we have to wait until the Monday after? Thank you.
Hello Greg. Hello TexasTornado! From what you explained, it appears that your daughter can renew her license either Friday or Monday. You will need to contact your local DPS for information about renewal requirements. Good luck!
MY NIECE IS 15 SHE WILL BE 16 NEXT MONTH. I NEED TO GET HER INTO DRIVERS ED, HOWEVER HER MOM AND I HAVE A TEMPORARY GUARDIANSHIP PAPERS THAT WE SIGNED BUT THEY ARE NOT THROUGH COURT. IM WORRIED THIS WILL HOLD HER BACK FROM GETTING HER PERMIT. THANK YOU